Analysis of a magnetic field sensor based on photonic crystal fiber selectively infiltrated with magnetic fluids

Abstract A magnetic field sensor based on magnetic fluids (MFs) selectively infilling photonic crystal fiber (PCF) is designed and analyzed by the finite-element method (FEM). The PCF consists of three-layer air holes in the cladding which are arranged in regular hexagonal lattice. The left and right sides of the fiber core are made up of two larger circular air holes while the upper and below sides are made up of four smaller circular air holes which are benefit to enhance the birefringent effect. MFs are injected into one air hole in the second cladding layer which generates a defect core with high confinement loss. Air holes around the defect core are asymmetrically distributed which can enhance the birefringence of the transmission mode in defect core. When the phase matching condition between core modes and defect core modes is satisfied, the light transmitting in the core couples to the defect core and a sharp decrease of light transmitting energy occurs. The refractive index of defect core modes is modulated by magnetic field strength. The peak wavelengths of confinement loss spectra depicts pretty well linear relationship with magnetic field strength in the detected range of 30–130 Oe. The magnetic field measuring sensitivity reaches to 584 pm/Oe for x-polarized mode and 700 pm/Oe for y-polarized mode, respectively.